The Gills have picked up some form under Steve Lovell. However, the 46-year-old also recognises the Iron’s impressive form.

Ahead of the match, Alexander spoke to iFollow Iron about the visitors, training, team news and regarding the Grassroots Day which will be held this weekend.

ON GILLINGHAM…GA: They are one of the form teams in League One. Steve Lovell has done a fantastic job. The results have certainly picked up, but we felt they were in a false position last time. He is now getting the best out of his players so we know the challenge coming our way on Saturday. We are confident in the run we have got going and we are looking to continue that.

"We have to work intelligently and make sure everything is organised in the right way to get the best out of the players."

Graham Alexander, manager

ON HAVING TWO FULL WEEKS OF TRAINING (WITH NO MIDWEEK GAME INTERUPTIONS)…GA: We have had a bit of difficulty with the training pitch, as it is a bit wet and very heavy. However, we have been able to get some of the injured lads back into a full week of training and not been broken up with a midweek game, so it has been good. Also, with the new players, we have been able to work on things in training and make it clear to them. We have to work intelligently and make sure everything is organised in the right way to get the best out of the players.

ON MATT GILKS…GA: Matt Gilks will miss this weekend. It is not as major as we first thought, but it was enough to keep him out last week and this week. Rory Watson had a competent debut and didn’t have a lot to do, but what he did have to do, he did pretty well.

PHOTO: Sam Mantom has stepped up his recovery from a groin injury.

ON FURTHER TEAM NEWS…GA: Luke Williams has continued to train this week, so he is getting fitter by the day and week, which is excellent. Sam Mantom is back out on the grass, which is good and a positive. We’re slowly getting players back into contention and back out there with their boots on. Every club has injuries, it is just about working through them. We have certainly got a squad which gives us competition for places. This is a real positive for me personally, and it will only benefit the team. Ryan Yates had an operation on his finger on Tuesday. He will stay with Nottingham Forest until Monday or Tuesday and then he will back into the swing of things. Every player that played last week got through last week’s game and this week’s training. We will have the same squad going into this week.

ON TRANSFER NEWS…GA: We are still diligently doing our work. We still feel we possibly need one more outfield player. We will only go for the players that we feel are good enough. We will have to work really cleverly to make sure we get the right people in and we are trying to do it.

ON GRASSROOTS DAY THIS SATURDAY…GA: I always like it when clubs do initiatives like this and get people in the ground because it is the seed that grows into a full supporter when you get young kids into the football club. If it is a game that is exciting, or one instance in a game or even one player, then it might hook that supporter. Once you get that bug, it stays forever. We are part of the community, we understand that and it is important that we can show that we are a part of it. These initiatives are always good to be involved with.

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